The Wittering Way by Nat Burns

upward. We followed at a slower pace, and I was alarmed at the protests the boards and metal sounded upon feeling our heavier weights.
    “Careful, Yews,” I cautioned as we reached the top.
    Ronat waited, her back pressed to a wall as she peered around the corner. “She’s just there,” she said, head indicating the hallway.
    Afton moved ahead and sensed the corridor. He came back and connected. “Six doors. She’s two down on the right.”
    “Do you sense any others?” I whispered.
    “No,” he said in my thoughts. “But...”
    “But what?” I questioned.
    He disconnected briefly and touched Purth. “I thought I sensed someone but Purth did not,” he said, reconnecting.
    I sighed. “Fine. We go forward.” I shoved Ronat around the corner and we three stepped into the brightly lit space. The brightness of the ceiling lamps hurt my eyes and made my head feel fuzzy. I could tell, by their low positions on our bodies, that the fammies weren’t enamored of them either.
    We crept along, slowly, until we had passed one closed door. As we paused at the next one, Ronat lifted the latch and we slid silently inside.
    Avapeony, sitting in a chair by the sole window, looked up in surprise. But the surprise was on us. Signe sat in the chair directly across from her. As soon as the door slid shut, it locked and a subtle, beeping alarm began to sound. Signe leapt to his feet and watched us as if bewildered.
    “How did you...” he began, but broke off to turn his gaze on Ronat. “Daughter? What is this about?”
    Ronat’s lips trembled but she drew herself up tall and spoke clearly. “We must let her go, Father. It’s wrong to hold her so.”
    Signe frowned as if not understanding her words. “Ronat, what are you saying?”
    “I’m saying...” She moved across and took Avapeony’s hand. “We are leaving, Father. I go with my love to her home.”
    Her love? Yewsy and I looked at one another.
    Signe was as amazed as we were. “Leave? What are you about, child? You can’t leave your home.”
    Ronat laughed shortly. “This has never been a home for me, Father. I have no love of metal, of heat, of machines. I want cool water, trees with leaves. I want forest magic. I want to live by Witta magic, not Milesian cunning.”
    Avapeony eyed Ronat with adoration just as heavy blows thundered against the door. Within seconds the door flew wide open and soldiers poured into the room. Signe was roughly shoved aside and Yewsy grabbed from behind. Ronat drew a weapon and leapt in front of Avapeony to protect her as I grew magic and sent it through the soldier nearest me. He stilled, stunned by my will. Another lifted a small box and moved closer to me. I sidestepped and he fell against Signe. The chaos stilled for a mere few seconds as another soldier, one of Ronat’s brothers, entered the room.
    “Father? What is afoot?” he shouted.
    “Get the Witta clan,” Signe said, blood pouring from his nose. He swiped at it. “And Ronat—don’t let her—”
    He fell silent and we all realized that Ronat and Avapeony were gone.
    Without taking time to think, I fetched a handful of acorns from my path bag and tossed them into the air.
     
    Iaru, Chaac, Cocijo
    I call upon you now
    Fierce gods of the roaring
    Boreas and Aossi
    Sister and brother wind
    Bring your strength to me now
    Ninlil, blow, blow, blow!
     
    I bound the working and quickly pulled Afton, Brennen and Yewsy close even as harsh, unbearable pain raced up my back, making me arc into the raging storm my words had wrought. Yewsy screamed in pain as well and, spun by the wind, we flew up and slammed into the rock wall. My flailing hand, covered in blood, slammed against an opening—the window— and grasped at the edge, pulling us toward it. Hands clasped about my neck and I almost lost my grip on Yewsy, but I spoke a work of release and the hands fell away.
    “Levitation,” I screamed, hoping Yewsy would hear me and understand. She must have, for she pushed